Student Senate

The Student Senate represents you on campus. The Senate advocates for policies that benefit every student and supports more than 72 clubs and organizations that can play a big role in your college experience. Members are active on standing Governors State University committees, offering their voice on students’ behalf to the administration and the board of trustees.

About the Student Senate

The mission of the Student Senate is to promote the general welfare of GSU
students. This is accomplished through the representation of student concerns,
viewpoints and interests regarding governance issues to the administration,
staff and faculty.

Through this work, the Student
Senate will strive to improve the quality of the academic and co-curricular
experience at GSU and provide developmental opportunities for its members.

College Town Hall Meetings -- Senators from each college (CAS,COE,COB, & CHHS) will conduct a Town Hall Meeting.

S.O.T.S. (Senate On The Street) -- Senators will introduce timelines that senators will be at different stations and locations to talk with students.

Active Citizenship Initiatives -- Engaging students in the election process; voters registration, watch parties, and getting to know the candidates.

Town Hall Meeting -- Wednesday, March 7, 2018 -- 3:00 - 4:15 p.m.

All In One Campus Symposium -- TBA

GSU Rocks the Vote!

In
partnership with Illinois Campus Compact, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities(AASCU), CEEP, and GSU’s Civic Engagement and Community Service Center the Student Senate has taken an active role to engage students and community members in the democratic engagement. Through the GSU Rocks the Vote campaign the student senate members are deputy registrars and can register anyone residing in the state of Illinois, no matter what county you reside in to vote and/or update voters registration information

Student Senate will hold voter registration drives at Governors State University in the Hall of Governors. The event is open to the public.

GSU Rocks the Vote Schedule

Thursday, February
15, 2018

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Hall of
Governors

2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, Friday 20, 2018

Hall of Governors

12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Student Senate Members

The Senate includes four members
from each college, 10 members at large, a Board of Trustee Student
representative and the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student
representative. The Student Senate holds two elections each academic year, one
during each fall and spring semester. This means you can get involved soon
after becoming a GSU student.

President's Council

The President's Council is made up of the presidents of the student clubs and organizations. This group is managed by the Vice-President of Student Senate. The Council discusses information as it pertains to the nuances of club life here at the University. Meetings are mandatory for active clubs.

President's Council Meeting Schedule

1st Tuesday of each month

February 6,
2018

March 6, 2018

April 3, 2018

HALL OF HONORS ---- 3:15 – 4:15 p.m.

Student Fee and Finance Committee (SFFC)

The Student Fees/Finance Committee (SFFC) of the
Student Senate is responsible for recommending fee distributions for the
Student Activity Fees to the Assistant Dean of
Students.The Assistant Dean of Students
as the designated fee administrator serves as a resource/information source to
the Committee. The budget for the next fiscal year is developed by the
Committee and recommended to the Assistant Dean of Students.Faculty representatives may be asked to
participate in the discussions, but they are not voting members.The Assistant Dean of Students makes the
final recommendation to the Vice President for Student Affairs and
Dean of Students.

Student Activity Fees facilitate the development
and maintenance of extra and co-curricular activities on and off-campus which increase
the ability of students to enrich/enhance their educational goals. The
development of a “sense of community” is a key ingredient in attempts to create
a sense of belonging among the student population. Student Activity Fees help
support clubs and organizations, including the Student Senate and the Phoenix.

Any student club or organization, which has been recognized
by the Student Life Unit of Governors State University (GSU) is eligible for
funding throughout any present fiscal year and for the following fiscal years
to come. These groups are referred to as Recognized Organizations, or ROs. To
become an RO, an organization must complete and submit a New Club/Organization
Packet to the Student Life Unit for approval.

FY 2018 Budget Packets were distributed at the January 11, Advisor and Officer Luncheon Training. Packets must be submitted to Student Life by February 28.

Get Involved in Student Governance

If you are interested in working on behalf of the student body then you need to get involved! The student senate is currently looking for students to join them and add to the exciting and creative new ideas and concepts on behalf of the students.

Student Senate election packets are currently available until March 7, 2018. Campaign Week will be held March 19 - 23. Senate elections will be held March 26- April 2. There's still time for you to get involved.

Save Our Education- Join The Movement

Illinois’s public
universities are under attack and it’s up to US to
take action to save our education!

Budget cuts proposed by Governor
Bruce Rauner include a 31.5 percent across-the-board cuts in appropriations including
Governors State University. Governors State’s appropriations have
decreased 13 percent in the last five years, while our student enrollment has
increased 24 percent. GSU has the smallest state appropriation of all public
universities in Illinois. Additional cuts would severely impact the positive
effect GSU has on the local community and the State of Illinois. GSU serves a
region that needs quality educational options. Its graduates are the educators,
nurses, and other dedicated professionals who in turn serve the people of the
Southland.

When
the students became aware of the state of higher education in Illinois, and how
it would directly impact the continuation of their educational process, the
Student Senate reacted with a call to action. The student senate made the
decision to mobilize their energy to come together in a collaborative effort to
let their voices be heard.

The
student senate will be mobilizing students to travel to Springfield on
Wednesday, April 20, to let legislators know how they feel about Governor
Rauner’s proposed budget cuts to higher education. We are encouraging you
all to share the information with other students and support participation in
this important endeavor #SaveOurEducation.

Buses will depart from D-Main Entrance at 8:30am. Follow the link below to RSVP for the Springfiled trip.